Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt called DeepSeek’s rise a “turning point” in the global AI race, highlighting China’s ability to challenge Big Tech with fewer resources. He urged the U.S. to invest more in AI infrastructure and open-source initiatives.
DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company founded in 2023, gained attention in January 2025 with its model DeepSeek-R1, which rivals top AI systems like ChatGPT at a lower cost. Its release caused a drop in major tech stocks, though analysts saw a market rebound.
Despite skepticism about cost claims, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised DeepSeek as strong competition. Schmidt emphasized the need for U.S. collaboration and innovation to stay competitive.
Source – CGTN